Vorinostat Before Surgery in Treating Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

• Resectable tumor measuring 2cm or more
• Histologically documented, newly diagnosed, triple negative invasive breast cancer characterized by 0% immunohistochemistry (IHC) nuclear staining for ER-alpha, 0% IHC nuclear staining for PR-alpha, and no amplification of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using institutional standard; standard IHC assays for ER and PR use antibodies to ER-alpha and PR-alpha and PR-beta
• Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) performance status of less than or equal to 1
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1500/uL
• Hemoglobin (Hgb) >= 9 g/dL
• Platelets >= 100,000/uL
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) =< 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or =< 5.0 x ULN in patients with liver metastases
• Creatinine =< 2.0 mg/dL or calculated creatinine clearance >= 50 ml/min
• Albumin >= 3 g/dL
• Potassium >= lower limit normal (LLN)
• Phosphorous >= LLN
• Calcium >= LLN
• Magnesium > LLN
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to start of treatment
• Accessible for treatment and follow-up
• Written informed consent prior to study entry

Exclusion Criteria:

• HER2/neu amplification by FISH
• Concurrent neoadjuvant anti-cancer treatment with chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, biologically targeted therapy or radiotherapy
• Known hypersensitivity to SAHA
• Preexisting hepatic impairment or renal impairment
• Intent to receive additional neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery
• Concurrent use of an HDAC inhibitor or hydralazine
• Known diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Major surgery < 4 weeks prior to starting study drug
• Pregnant or breastfeeding or female of reproductive potential not using an effective method of birth control
• Other concurrent severe, uncontrolled infection or intercurrent illness, including but not limited to ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Prior antiestrogens (selective estrogen receptor modulator [SERM] or aromatase inhibitors) within 6 months of study entry
• Underlying medical, psychiatric or social conditions that would preclude patient from receiving treatment